Books just arrived from FOIL, Toto, Seigensha & Atelier Bow-Wow.Featuring photos, works and words by/onYasuhide Kuge, Rei Kawakubo,Terunobu Fujimori & Yoshimoto Nara.
ABOVE:
REFUSING FASHION - REI KAWAKUBO
(MOCA DETROIT)
(look inside!)
In order to justify the singular vision and approach
of this celebrated Japanese fashion designer,
the organisers of this retrospective at the MOCA,
Detroit decided to create an all-compassing installation –
with numerous individual pieces selected in order
to reveal a complex and multifaceted whole.
Presenting the fruits of a practice that spans more than 20 years,
the exhibition and delightfully conceived catalogue
present clothes and accessories designed both for
Commes des Garçons and under her own name,
shop designs, posters, advertisements, collaborations with
architects, photographers, Merce Cunningham, and with those
that wear and style the clothes. The publication is interspersed
throughout with various images from the exhibition, film-stills,
photographs and texts from five different authors.
138 p, ills colour & bw, 22 x 28 cm, pb, English 
KUGE YASUHIDE - ATELIER
(FOIL)
(look inside!)
Kuge Yasuhide’s second publication saw the
photographer visit a number of ateliers of
prominent Japanese artists and document
the place where ‘values’ are created.
The studio spaces of Yayoi Kusama, Katsura Funakoshi
and Takashi Murakami, for example,
are vividly and lively represented
in this photography book.
Tools used in the studio, the atelier spaces themselves,
personal details, favourite objects and
studio assistants who support the artist
in their daily practice all appear in these images,
exposing and emphasising the richness of
these ‘scenes’ of creation.
Illustrated throughout with full colour images,
the publication contains very little text.
144 p, ills colour, 21 x 28 cm, pb, Japanese
BATH VIEWS:
FUJIMORI, INUI, FUJIMOTO, ISHIGAMI,
TORAFU, NAGAYAMA(TOTO)
Part of an important tradition in Japan,
bathing is not only for washing away the stress
and fatigue of a long and busy day, but it is also
for dreaming and creative play.
Wishing to unlock the bath’s forgotten potential,
the editors of this edition asked six architects
to envision their schemes for the bath of the future.
Beautifully realised and laid-out while retaining a
Japanese aesthetic, this volume examines six
bathing projects from Terunobu Fujimori, Kumiko Inui,
Sou Fujimoto, Junya Ishigami, Torafu and Yuko Nagayama.
A generous blend of photographs, plans,
models and sketches accompany each design
that is also explored through the thoughts and
motivations of each participating architect.
194 p, ills colour & bw, 18 x 24 cm, hb, Japanese/English
RYOKO AOKI - CHAIN RING
With a signature use of botanic or landscape motifs
coupled with diffuse lines that form map-like objects,
Kyoto based painter Ryoko Aoki’s working approach
has led to the creation of her own unique
floating world full of mysterious humour.
This first publication on the work of the artist
presents an extensive body of predominantly existing
works on paper that also explore the theme of ‘linking.’
Delightfully produced, the book is illustrated throughout
and contains a combination of delicate sketches,
watercolours and gouache on paper, along with
several photographs, juxtaposed and linked to one another.
128 p, ills colour & bw, 25 x 18 cm, pb, Japanese/English
DOUBLE FANTASY: KOREAN CONTEMPORARY ART
(FOIL)
A younger generation of Korean artists have been emerging
over recent years with new forms of expression that
reflect an understanding of issues relevant
to the rest of the art world, yet with a unique Korean sensibility.
Published to coincide with an exhibition carrying
the same title at the Marugame Genichiro-Inokuma
Museum of Contemporary Art, this book surveys the works of 15 artists,
including Yee Sookyung, Kim Dokyun, Yoon Jeongmee,
Won Seoungwon, Ji Yongho, MeeNa Park and Lee JIhyun.
All are introduced through colour images of a
selection of recent works and accompanied by
several essays, biographic notes and short written introductions
about each artist’s practice.
120 p, ills colour & bw, 19 x 24 cm, pb, Korean/Japanese/English
MIYAKO KANAMORI: NUI-GURUMI
(FOIL)
(look inside!)
Admired by a growing group of fans from around the world,
Miyako Kanamori’s nui-gurumi dolls each have a
unique and adorable characteristic.
The artist’s stuffed-dolls, which take the form of
much loved animals such as cows, penguins,
monkeys and koala bears, for example, are produced
from worn out clothes or textiles taken from fashion brand labels
such as Kate Spade and Cath Kidson.
Following on from a successful edition from a few years ago,
this catalogue features 76 unique dolls each
depicted one to a page and in full colour.
64 p ills colour 18 x 21 Japanese/English pb
YASUHIDE KUGE: NIWA TO SONO
(FOIL)
Devoid of any text, this collection of both single
full-page and double-spread colour photographs
presents a unique interpretation of Japanese gardens.
These images of gardens- “Niwa to Sono” in Japanese –
seem at first glance almost uninteresting and typical
in the manner in how various features, pathways,
buildings along with seasonal views are depicted.
However, closer inspection reveals an intelligent eye
for the exact choice of these images and the choices
for both composition and depth of colour.
68 p ills 40 colour 22 x 31 Japanese/English hb
PATTERN OF CERAMIC ART
(SEIGENSHA)
Collection of some 200 colourful design drawings,
including two-dimensional, unfolded-view pictures
and edge patterns, for the colourful over glazed pictures
and patterns painted on porcelain that date from the
Meiji and Taisho period. These styles include early
Kutani, Imari, Aka-e, polychrome Nabeshima and Kakiemon,
some of which reflect Chinese influence.
264 p ills colour & b/w 11 x 15 Japanese/English pb
BOW WOW FROM POST BUBBLE CITY
Following on from the cult success of the
‘Pet Architecture Guide Book ‘, Atelier Bow-Wow
presents a comprehensive survey of some
70 small scale house designs and projects
of their own making that deal predominantly
with the complexities of dense urban environments.
Conversations on twelve different urban and
architectural issues relevant to their practice are
threaded throughout this book which comes
exhaustively illustrated with photographs,
models, plans, sketches and elevations.
320 p ills colour & b/w 17 x 21 Japanese/English pb
YOSHITOMO NARA: FROM THE DEPTHS OF MY DRAWER
(FOIL)
Publication featuring work produced by Nara since
the late 80s which formed part of a travelling exhibition
which visited three different locations.
At each site unique exhibition spaces were
created in collaboration with the
design group Graf from Osaka.
This book introduces not only the exhibited works,
but also the layout of the installations along with the plans of each site.
226 p ills 180 colour 17 x 21 Japanese/English pb
RYUKYUU-BINGATA - TRADITIONAL CLOTHES OF OKINAWA
(SEIGENSHA)
Volume presenting a collection of some 200 examples of the bold,
vivid designs of Ryukyu bingata stencil dyeing which
differs distinctly from traditional Japanese dyeing.
254 p ills colour 11 x 15 Japanese/English pb
Collecting Design, Adam Lindeman
Isamu Noguchi and Modern Japanese Ceramics
Lousie Bourgeois: The Blind Leading the Blind, Makhi Xenakis 
The English Garden at Night, Linda Rutenberg 
The Selby is in Your Place, Todd Selby 
Japanese Photography Books of the 60s and 70s
The Judith Rothschild Foundation
Still Life
Setting Sun: Writings by Japanese Photographers, Ivan Vartanian et al 
